Rather than just having a quick post to announce I'm having a break from the blog until January sometime, I decided to be educational instead. After arriving home I was speaking with my Dad and complaining about the Leicester English accent (sorry Leicester) and how much I didn't really like it. I also began to say that I wanted to move back up to Scotland when I had finished everything down in England. He then asked me if I was a nationalist. I stopped at this, thought back and realised that, yes, I suppose I am. I mention it all the time on here, I've named this blog after the largest city in Scotland, and I found myself becoming more definitively Scottish the longer I spend in England. That being said, and with New Year fast approaching, I will explain what happens in Scotland.
From the title you'll have noticed New Year is rarely called New Year in Scotland, rather the term Hogmanay is used. We are famous for our Hogmanay celebrations, people from the rest of the UK (barring Ireland cause they know how to party) flock to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and all the major cities of Scotland to celebrate.
No one really knows the origins of the words "Hogmanay", but Scotland took and ran with it. Apparently in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire they have a flaming ball march where people twirl, you guessed it, balls that are on fire. It's usually fireworks in every other city, but Edinburgh I'm told is the place to go. They have a massive street party, the gun at the castle goes at 12 to mark the coming of the new Year. Scotland, I think, celebrates Hogmanay even more than Christmas.
Some traditions in Scotland, or in my family so it may be English since my Dad is from the North East of England, is first-foot. We've done this in my household since I can remember and I don't know where it comes from. It used to be done by my Dad before he began to go white, and now it's done by me. It is meant to be good luck if the first person over the threshold of your house is dark-headed, my Dad and I (Mum's blonde). Delving deeper into this after some quick Googling, it used to be that the first-footer brought money, or whisky, or food, to ensure prosperity and good fortune to those that resided inside.
Another tradition, don't know if it's sung in England as well, is Auld Laing Syne, the famous song by Walter Scott that we sing at Hogmanay, and sometimes Christmas. I like the original in the Scots language, but everyone sings the English version now.
That's all the ones I can remember; I think my Grandmother has one or two that I can't remember. Despite popular opinion Scottish people aren't more superstitious than any other Western culture.....I'm still saying that it's a personal thing, or maybe even generational, rather than nationalistic.
Anyway, I would like to thank the occasional, brief, and regular readers of this blog. I hope I bring some joy, hope and laughter with my words, and I also hope that all of these things find their way to you during Christmas, and if not then they will be brought in at Hogmanay.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hogmanay, everyone, see you in 2015!
